PAGE 2
THE DECREE
TUETOAY, 13, 1971
Editorial
One student commented after last week’s honors convocations
“my faith In my fellow man has been restored.” And yet others
have re.-narked that the memories of this year will be embit
tered, and racked with painful recollection of a year’s experience
that yielded none of the emotional and psychological growth
that should have been the result of a year of conflict, tension,
dissention. Instead, they maintain that bitterness and disillus
ionment have replaced any natural expansion that normally re
sults following a year of crisis.
The dissention and struggles that have occurred this year were
healthy, and shotild have been beneficial. Instead, the issues un
der discussion—the Smith-Mann issue, the "pjnitive” F, and the
foreign language requirement-have become controversies in
which the parties on both sides have lined up for fierce, and ven
omous attack and counter-attacks in which subtle and some not-
so-subtle barbs have been slung.
When controversy becomes acid and ceases to result In con
structive analysis and criticism, then it becomes something
slightly unworthy of a game that belongs in an academic insti
tution, And this is the state that this year has reached and ac
complished. We’ve progressed only far enough to learn tactics
and strategics that shouldn’t be characteristic of oiir status~as
students and educators.
Therefore, It would seem that the Inference of the crises of
this year should be that dissention and challenge are neces
sary for growth, and yet if the sole result is an embittered
lot, hell-bent upon personal vendettas, then the struggles
themselves were not worth the disillusionment.
Like the student who regained belief In the goodness of her
fellowman, we believe that at least some of us have profited
from the encwjnters.
Year’s Review Observes
Advances And Retreats
(Continued FYom Page 1)
summer) in a attempt to pop
ulate this campus. Finally, two
groups devoted to the similar
ideals of brotherhood and sis
terhood incorporated them
selves and became the Bro
therhood of Sigma Omega and
the Sisterhood of Sigma Phi
Delat. Unfortunately, this
list covers almost all of those
instances which may be pro
perly called good; however,
the realization dawns that the
major issues that have plagued
Wesleyan during this semester
are not included.
The major problems that have
plagued Wesleyan orginate
as academic problems (ie:
Smlth-Mann, punitive F, and
foreign language require
ments), but between faculty
bickering and student resent
ment, the problems Ijecome the
line of judgment on which we as
flounders stand, take sides, and
fall. After we have fallen
into our respective groups, we
(at least members of the stu
dent body) regress to the ele
mentary games of label attach
ment, There is little more than
can be said though it is the
earnest desire of this writer
that he could say something ma
gical to sooth the situation.
I suppose my personal com
plaint for this year has noth
ing to do with foreign lan
guage on the “F” or any
thing as temporary as any of
our passing issues. This year’s
experiences with and at Wes
leyan have crushed by personal
Illusions and some of my id
eals, not ideals in our acade
mic institution, but trust in
people in general. Maybe I
should take sides with the
voice I heard in the Circle
K Talent Show that sang these
words, “My mind is clearing
up, at last, all too well, I can
see where we all will be. If
you strip away the myth . . .”
If I took this lyric as my
conclusion to my third year at
Wesleyan, would I have need
to thank Scott Wilkinson or
the authors of Jesus Christ
Superator? For my sake (as
well as for Wesleyan’s), I hope
Pm wrong.
Over Troubled Water
By ALLEN WINTER
The conviction of Lt. Richard
Calley in March unquestionably
opened a “new” decade in the
life of the American soldier.
A familiar quote from the
thoughts of Edmund Burke is re
membered in this manner—
“Never despair. But if you
do, work on in despair.” Un
deniably public criticism of
Calley’s conviction demon
strates the despair of a Nation.
A few months, a year or a de
cade may show the reversal by
a highter court of the verdict.
Yet the verdict is guilty, and
tf we face the facts, Calley, like
so many thousands of Ameri
cans who have participated
in war or not are murderers
—premediated. As a Nation,
public cries have requested that
the end of the Vietnam War
and other “local wars” that
inviltrate our system (not po
litical-physical). The question
arises—now what? What of the
"Lt. Calley’s” that leave for
Vietnam today? What of the ac
tual fact that men in boot camp
today are being trained for mur
der-premeditated?!
The thoughts of an extremely
interesting and rather refresh
ing lady come to mind. The
lady is Miss Kaye Boyle, a
writer of poetry and prose, a
revolutionary in her heart with
the ability to make one wonder.
Miss Boyle presented her works
to the Wesleyan campus just last
week with a mast unforgettable
thought. Miss Boyle’s thought
—if the men In war were tried
in court for the actions they
commit then the tragedies of
war may eventually end. It’s
a reasonable thought. Out of
half-wishes might I add the
thought that we do not have
“Freedom without Responsibil
ity.” Just as we have
a responsibility to protect the
freedom we have devloped a Na
tion so we have the responsi
bility not to debase or dis
grace the freedoms we accept.
Murder is a freedom no man
nor Nations should accept as
a responsibility—ideally. So
what is our responsibility as
people with minds and jealous
hearts. Do we build a “new”
Nation from the teachings of
the Calley trial? Do we learn
or are we ready for the thoughts
of an unforgetable lady?
There is usally a summary
involved with every writing.
The points I think that should
be established are (one) that I
believe that Miss Boyle would
severely criticise the Calley in
cident-. It’s ironical that at
times it is difficult to live
by our beliefs. The teachings
of Miss Boyle are worthy to
live by as is the idealism of
Edmund Burke. We are each
torn between hatred for abuse
and the belief that we must
act. Action may eventually
come from world government.
World government isanunclear
, I ;thought. The United Nations is
Hmlted, Yet American, Rus
sian, or Chinese Interven
tion can only mean conflict-
war—murder—all premeditat
ed. The third (and final point)
must be the strongest point,
the entire Calley incident
should find action and response
from the people it intimidates
—the American Nation.
Letters To The Editor
Editor’s Note: The following
Is student’s on the meaning of
Easter.
Dear Editor:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God,^
came to this earth in human
form through a miraculous
birth. He was the expression
of God’s love and compassion
for this world. Though he was
despised, rejected and con
demned, His hunility, bound
less compassion, and uncom
promising doctrine of love, joy,
and peace still live today is
just as alive as when He walk
ed the earth.
Just before his crucifixtion.
He was betrayed, whipped, and
even spat upon. He was strip-
Reservist Comments
On Calley Verdict
ASftlNT IN HIS OWN TIMt.,
By MAX RICHARD FOBES
I am, in a limited capacity,
serving the U. S. Military and
at the same time associated
with the AmerlcanCollege cam
pus scene. In view of the two
environments. I will express
my dlssilusloned feelings to
ward the life sentence Impos
ed upon Lt. William Calley
by a Court Martial of the U.
S. Military.
Lt. Calley of the U. S. Army
was convicted of the “premed-
lated murder” of 22 South Viet-
manese villagers in April, 1971.
Although one cannot readily
condone his various methods of
execution, such as marching
My Lai villagers through mine
fields, one must come to the
realization that Calley’s actions
' have, and will hold true to
the American way of war, or
for that matter anyone’s man
ner of nationalistic murder.
In general the object of any
war is to win. Therefore, in
general, to win awar “the sold
ier” must kill to eliminate the
opposition. Is “the soldier”
to be condemed for trying to win
his country’s war?
Calley was sent to Vietnam
by the U. S. Military to kill.
The fundamental problem with
the Military’s attitude toward
the massacre is that it does
not realize the reason why Cal
ley killed. He was convicted
of killing women and children,
but did Calley kill women and
children? He killed the ene
my.
The fact that the North Viet
Cong drew many of their re
cruits from the My Lai hamlet
is not so commonly known.
But It is a factor of Calley’s
attitude. Perhaps, since the
women of the hamlet have been
known to bear children and the
children have developed into
Viet Cong, Calley felt that it
was his duty to kill. What oth
er circumstance could convince
a human being into easily ad
mitting to the wholesale mur
der of 22 “helpless” civili
ans?
Although I do not approve of
Calley’s methods, I must as
an American accept and con
done his Intentions, Lt. Cal
ley was a part of the United
States Military that was sent
to Vietnam to win a war by
killing. If Calley is allowed
to be imprlsioned for this act,
then every American Mili
tary should be imprlsioned al
so, Each Individual is making
a contribution to the death of
some Vietnamese. Some are
helping the cause more than
others, but all are guilty of
same crime that Lt. Calley is
guilty of.
It has been my deepest de
sire for this comment to be
cold and hard. The cause
can be attributed to the fact
that the life of the service
man in Vietnam is cold and
hard because war in . itself
is an unimaginable atrocity.
ped of His garments and all His
human dignity. Men literal
ly crucified the campasslon-
ate heart of Him. What unde-:
scrlbable love He has for this
World! He Is concerned. He
wants to rebuild the nation with
strength and goodwill,
“For God sent not his Son
Into the world to condemn the
world: but that the world
through Him might be saved,”
Though Christ’s human form
was nailed to the cross and
laid in a sealed tomb, He Is
the life that will never die.
Death could not and will not con
quer Him, He arose from
the grave to save the world
from eternal damnation.
The resurrection of Christ
was the detonation of the earth.
With it, a tremendous Impact
has been made on the scien
tists, philosophers, and theo
logians. He sits on the right
hand of His Father making in
tercession for you and me. What
wonderous love He has for us!
Together let us try to relate
to the reality of Easter. Lov
ing one another as Christ hath
loved us. It Is only through His
love that we can lead mean
ingful lives expressing perfect
love for our fellow man.
Joyce Summer
Dear Julie
Today, for a fleeting Instant,
I l)elleved In people again. To
day Mrs. Smith is the best pro
fessor on campus. The Instant
of recognition came quick
ly—or so it seems. She has
been the best for quite a long
time and there are many that
know this. The award Itself Is
Ironic. It’s "as if one were
saying you're the best; you can
leave now.
Today I lost my belief In
people again. There are those
that believe that college is a
place where you are taught to
think. And often wasting some
time I thought and remember
ed. Sometimes you can lose
and yet win. Having won Pll
leave. Sarcastically yours,
Koz
OFFICTAL STUDENT >fE^4’SPAPER OF
NORTH CAROLINA ft’ESSLEVAN COLLEGE
EDITOR
ASSISTANT EWTOR
BUSINESS MANAGER
ADVERTISING MANAGER
PHOTOGRAPHER
PRODUCTION MANAGER
AaUST
Julia RobiMOB
Marshail CM
Cback Marli>
Ctmck Martia
Gvry ChristoplKr
Gail M^
Will Thom!«OD
Bntaeu Addnu; B«x 3MI. Wetleyaa Caliege
Rocky MmM, NorU Caroiina t7MI
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